Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 12 : Spring 2012 | Page 68
Nicole Farley
Choosing between
Food, Fuel and Medications
by Dottie Hutchins
68
SPRING 2012
Today, many senior citizens
and others worry about their
ability to pay for prescription
medications. We often hear
heart-wrenching
stories
about people having to
choose between buying
food, heating their homes,
or filling their prescriptions.
Making these difficult choices
is stressful and lifethreatening for those
who may already
be challenged
by
their
golden
years, or
learning
to live
with a
Mary Gallant
disability. For younger generations, these same difficult
choices may result from recently losing a job, a catastrophic
illness, or other family emergencies. The economic
challenges of our time know no age boundaries.
These challenges are a reality for many, but there
is hope and help is available. Pines Health Services offers
many options for patients to receive free or low-cost
prescription medications. These options include brand
name and generic Prescription Assistance Programs (PAPs);
co-pay foundations; pharmacy discounts; as well as state
and federal programs.
Programs vary with the needs of each patient. Some
programs are available to patients with Medicare, while
others assist patients who have private insurance, no
drug coverage insurance, or have larger incomes coupled
with high medical expenses. Many of the prescription
medications are provided at no cost or at discounted prices
to the patient.
“We assist patients of all ages who lack prescription
coverage based on income,” said Nicole Farley, one of Pines
Prescription Assistance Coordinators.
Pines Prescription Assistance Program Coordinators
help each qualifying patient get the medicines they need
through the program that is right for them. This service
is free of charge not only for Pines patients, but also nonPines patients who are referred by other physician practices
and organizations.
“In the fourth quarter of 2011, we helped more
than 200 patients receive prescription assistance totaling
over $205,000,” added Farley. “For many of our patients,
chronic health issues such as diabetes and heart disease are